Downhole Valve Actuation Methods and Apparatus

ABSTRACT

In some embodiments a method of shifting a downhole-located device between positions with an actuator includes inserting the actuator into the well, engaging the actuator with the shiftable device and actuating the actuator to shift the shiftable device between positions.

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/058,908 filed Jun. 4, 2008, entitled “Remote HydraulicShifting Apparatus, Systems and Methods”, which is hereby incorporatedby reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to downhole valves and otherdevices that are movable between positions and, more particularly, toselectively remotely shifting such valves or other devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In hydrocarbon recovery operations in subterranean wells, it is oftendesirable to selectively shift a valve or other device betweenpositions. For example, there are instances when it is necessary ordesirable to selectively close a downhole device to isolate the well,such as to remove, repair or replace equipment. Likewise, there areoccasions when it is necessary to shift open the downhole device, suchas to allow the recovery of produced fluids.

In many applications, it may be particularly useful to be able toselectively remotely shift a valve or other device between positions onmultiple occasions. For example, in hydrocarbon producing wells having agenerally low bottom-hole pressure, an electric submersible pump isoften inserted into the well to assist in drawing produced fluids upinto the production tubing. However, these pumps typically have alimited useful life-span as compared to the producing life of the well,so operations must be interrupted to replace the pump. In suchinstances, it is often desirable to isolate the well below the pump byclosing one or more valves during removal and replacement of the pump,and thereafter to re-open the valve(s) and continue production.

Some present techniques for selectively shifting downhole devicesrequire the insertion into the well of a shifting tool carried on pipe,coiled tubing or the like to mechanically shift the valve betweenpositions. This process, which often requires the use of a rig or otherequipment, may be time consuming and costly.

It should be understood that the above-described discussion is providedfor illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope orsubject matter of the appended claims or those of any related patentapplication or patent. Thus, none of the appended claims or claims ofany related patent application or patent should be limited by the abovediscussion or required to address, include or exclude all or any of theabove-cited examples, features and/or disadvantages merely because oftheir mention above.

Accordingly, there exists a need for improved systems, apparatus andmethods capable of shifting a valve or other device disposed in asubterranean well and having one or more of the attributes, capabilitiesor features described below or in the subsequent sections of thisdisclosure, or shown in the appended drawings: may be remotely actuatedfrom the surface with hydraulic pressure; may be remotely actuated fromthe surface with pneumatic pressure; may be remotely actuated from thesurface by electric power; may be capable of both opening and closingthe shiftable device multiple times as desired; may be capable ofselectively repeatedly shifting the shiftable device between at leasttwo positions; may be connected to a production tubing and releasablyengageable with the shiftable device; is not part of the lowercompletion assembly or components; may be disengaged from the shiftabledevice, removed from the well, reinserted into the well and re-engagedwith the device multiple times; may be capable of shifting the shiftabledevice without requiring the insertion or manipulation of pipe or coiledtubing in the well, or the use of a rig, wet connect or slick line;allows well zone isolation for quickly replacing, adding, removing orservicing equipment or other operations; does not require the engagementof control lines to the shiftable device; may be useful to quickly openand close off the well at will and repeatedly; is easily engageable anddisengageable with the shiftable device; is slideably engageable withthe shiftable device; allows the well to be sealed before startingoperations; or a combination thereof.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In some embodiments, the present disclosure involves methods of shiftinga shiftable device between at least first and second positions with aremovable actuator. The shiftable device is anchored within asubterranean well. The actuator is inserted into the well and releasablyengaged with the shiftable device. When the shiftable device is in afirst position, the actuator may be actuated by providing at least oneamong hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure and electric power theretoto shift the shiftable device into a second position without requiringthe use of either a rig or a slick line. The actuator may be disengagedfrom the shiftable device.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure involves methods ofshifting a shiftable device between at least first and second positionswith an actuator. The shiftable device is anchored within a subterraneanwell. These embodiments include coupling the actuator to a productiontubing. After the shiftable member is anchored in the well, theproduction tubing is inserted into the well and the actuator isslideably engaged with the shiftable device. Whenever and as many timesas desired, the actuator may be actuated by providing at least one amonghydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure and electric power to theactuator to shift the shiftable device between positions withoutrequiring the use of either a rig or a slick line.

There are embodiments of the present disclosure that involve a method ofremotely shifting a downhole valve between open and closed positionswith a hydraulic valve actuator. These embodiments include inserting thevalve actuator into the well and engaging the valve actuator with thevalve (in a closed position). Thereafter and whenever the valve is in aclosed position, the valve actuator may be hydraulically actuated toshift the valve into an open position. Likewise, when the valve is in anopen position, the valve actuator may be hydraulically actuated to shiftthe valve into a closed position.

In accordance with the present disclosure, some embodiments involve anapparatus useful for shifting a shiftable device between at least firstand second positions. The shiftable device is anchored in a subterraneanwell. The apparatus includes a housing insertable into and out of thewell without disturbing the location of the shiftable device within thewell. A hydraulically-driven piston is disposed within the housing. Atleast two hydraulic control lines are fluidly coupled to the housing andcapable of providing hydraulic pressure from the surface to the housingto cause the piston to move up and down within the housing. Anengagement arm extends from the piston and is releasably engageable withthe shiftable device. The engagement arm moves up and down with thepiston and is capable of mechanically shifting the shiftable devicebetween at least first and second positions without requiring the use ofeither a rig or a slick line. The piston and engagement arm may thus behydraulically-actuated to selectively remotely shift the shiftablemember between positions.

Accordingly, the present disclosure includes features and advantageswhich are believed to enable it to advance downhole device shiftingtechnology. Characteristics and potential advantages of the presentdisclosure described above and additional potential features andbenefits will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art uponconsideration of the following detailed description of variousembodiments and referring to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following figures are part of the present specification, included todemonstrate certain aspects of various embodiments of this disclosureand referenced in the detailed description herein:

FIG. 1 is a partial schematic and partial cross-sectional view of anembodiment of a valve actuator useful for shifting an example valvedisposed in a subterranean well in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an example shifter ofan embodiment of a valve actuator in accordance with the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3A is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the valveactuator of FIG. 1 shown with the example valve in a closed position;

FIG. 3B is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the valveactuator of FIG. 1 shown with the example valve in an open position;

FIG. 3C is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the valveactuator of FIG. 1 shown with the example valve in a closed position;

FIG. 3D is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the valveactuator of FIG. 1 shown releasing from the exemplary valve in a closedposition;

FIG. 4A is a partial schematic and partial cross-sectional view ofanother embodiment of a valve actuator useful for shifting an examplesleeve disposed in a subterranean well in accordance with an embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIG. 4B a partial schematic and partial cross-sectional view of theexemplary valve actuator of FIG. 4A shown shifting the illustratedsleeve into a closed position;

FIG. 5A is a partial perspective and partial cross-sectional view of aportion of another embodiment of a valve actuator having an exemplaryengagement arm shifting an example sliding sleeve into an open positionin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5B shows the exemplary valve actuator of FIG. 5A after havingshifted the illustrated sliding sleeve into an open position.

FIG. 5C shows the exemplary engagement arm of FIG. 5A shifting theillustrated sliding sleeve into a closed position; and

FIG. 5D shows the exemplary valve actuator of FIG. 5A after havingshifted the illustrated sliding sleeve into a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure and additionalfeatures and benefits will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart upon consideration of the following detailed description ofexemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and referring to theaccompanying figures. It should be understood that the descriptionherein and appended drawings, being of example embodiments, are notintended to limit the appended claims or claims of any patent or patentapplication claiming priority hereto. On the contrary, the intention isto cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the claims. Many changes may be made to theparticular embodiments and details disclosed herein without departingfrom such spirit and scope.

In showing and describing preferred embodiments, common or similarelements are referenced in the appended figures with like or identicalreference numerals or are apparent from the figures and/or thedescription herein. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certainfeatures and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated inscale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

As used herein and throughout various portions (and headings) of thispatent application, the terms “invention”, “present invention” andvariations thereof are not intended to mean every possible embodimentencompassed by this disclosure or any particular claim(s). Thus, thesubject matter of each such reference should not be considered asnecessary for, or part of, every embodiment hereof or of any particularclaim(s) merely because of such reference. The terms “coupled”,“connected”, “engaged” and the like, and variations thereof, as usedherein and in the appended claims are intended to mean either anindirect or direct connection or engagement. Thus, if a first devicecouples to a second device, that connection may be through a directconnection, or through an indirect connection via other devices andconnections. Also, the terms “upward” and “downward” as used herein andin the appended claims may be relative to the top and/or bottom of acomponent, assembly or space and are not necessarily limited to movementin a vertical axis or plane.

Certain terms are used herein and in the appended claims to refer toparticular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate,different persons may refer to a component by different names. Thisdocument does not intend to distinguish between components that differin name but not function. Also, the terms “including” and “comprising”are used herein and in the appended claims in an open-ended fashion, andthus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . ..” Further, reference herein and in the appended claims to componentsand aspects in a singular tense does not necessarily limit the presentdisclosure or appended claims to only one such component or aspect, butshould be interpreted generally to mean one or more, as may be suitableand desirable in each particular instance.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a valve actuator 10useful for shifting a valve 14 or other device disposed in asubterranean well 12 is shown. The illustrated well 12 is verticallyoriented, but could instead be horizontal, deviated or have any otherorientation. In this embodiment, the valve 14 is a mechanical isolationball valve 16, which may be shifted between open and closed positions,as desired, with the valve actuator 10. The illustrated ball valve 16 iscontained within a valve assembly 18, which is connected within a lowercompletion arrangement 22 coupled to a casing 24, such as with aseal/locator assembly 28 and packer 30. For example, the lowercompletion arrangement 22 may be run into and set in the well 12 in onetrip with the valve 14 in a closed position before the valve actuator 10is introduced into the well 12. However, this set of components,configuration and sequence are provided for illustrative purposes onlyand are not required for, or limiting upon, the present disclosure.

It should be understood that the valve actuator 10 may be used to moveany type or configuration of valve 14 or other device between anydesired positions. Some examples of such valves and other devices areflapper valves, ball valves, mechanical or hydraulic sliding sleeves,gravel pack closing sleeves and other fluid loss or recovery devices.Thus, the present invention is not limited to use with any particulartype of valve or other shiftable device. As used herein and in theappended claims, unless specified otherwise, the term “valve” includesany type of device that is moveable between at least two positions.Further, the present invention is not limited by the number or nature ofpositions between which the valve may be shifted. Additionally, thevalve may be disposed at any desired location in a subterranean well andin any desired downhole arrangement of components. Accordingly, thepresent disclosure is not limited by the type, configuration, action,purpose or operation of the device(s) that may be shifted in accordancewith this disclosure.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the valve actuator 10 may have any desiredform, configuration and operation. In this embodiment, the valveactuator 10 includes a shifter 32 which effectively moves the valve 14between positions. In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 2, the shifter32 may include at least one balanced piston 34 and at least oneengagement arm 38 extending therefrom and moveable therewith. Theexemplary piston 34 is disposed and reciprocable within a housing 42 bysurface-controlled hydraulic (or pneumatic) pressurization throughcontrol lines 46, 48. In other embodiments, the piston 34 may beelectrically-actuated. For example, one or more electric power line (notshown) may extend from the surface to an electric motor (not shown)connected with and used for powering the piston 34.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the illustrated piston 34 is shown in a“down” position after hydraulic fluid pressurization in the housing 42via the control line 46. If it is desired to move the exemplary piston34 (and engagement arm 38) to an “up” position (not shown), sufficienthydraulic fluid pressurization is provided via the control line 48.Thus, the piston 34 and engagement arm 38 of this embodiment areselectively, remotely moveable via hydraulics (or pneumatics) between“up” and “down” positions. However, the valve actuator 10 of the presentdisclosure is not limited to this configuration. For example, adifferent arrangement and number of control lines may be used. For otherexamples, the piston 34 (and engagement arm 38) may be moveable betweenmore than two positions or actuated in a different manner (other thanhydraulics or pneumatics; e.g. electrical power). Further, the piston 34and engagement arm 38 may be separate components coupled together,integrally formed or part of or contained within other components. Also,in many embodiments, the shifter 32 may include different or additionalcomponents. Thus, the present invention is not limited by the type,configuration and operation of the shifter 32 or other embodiments ofthe valve actuator 10.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the valve actuator 10 may be associated withthe valve assembly 18 in any suitable manner and with any desiredcomponents to cause the valve 14 to move between positions. In thisembodiment, for example, the engagement arm 38 is slideable into and outof the upper end of the valve assembly 18. The exemplary arm 38 includesat least one profile, or rib, 52 that is engageable with upper and lowercollets, or ribs, 56, 58 disposed on an internal sleeve 60 in the valveassembly 18. As the engagement arm 38 moves up or down (such as, e.g.,by action of the piston 34 of FIG. 2), the profile 52 engages and pushesone of the collets 56, 58 to move the valve 16 between positions.

In FIG. 3A, for example, the engagement arm 38 is engaged with the valveassembly 18 and the ball valve 16 is in a closed position. This positionof the engagement arm 38 is between “up” and “down” positions. As thepiston (not shown) is actuated to move from an “up” to a “down”position, it causes the exemplary engagement arm 38 to move down (leftto right in FIGS. 3A-D). The downward movement of the arm 38 causes theprofile 52 to abut the lower collet 58 and push it and the internalsleeve 60 downwardly. FIG. 3A thus illustrates the position of theexemplary profile 52 as it engages the lower collet 58 to begin openingthe valve 14.

Continued downward movement of the exemplary arm 38 and internal sleeve60 will cause the ball valve 16 to be shifted from a closed position toan open position, as shown in FIG. 3B. In this example, with sufficientdownward movement to open the valve 16, the lower collet 58 will seat ina lower undercut 66 in the valve assembly 18, allowing the profile 52 tomove down past the lower collet 58 (FIG. 3B), such as, for example, toaccommodate any overstroke of the piston (not shown).

In this embodiment, the reverse movement of the piston (not shown) andengagement arm 38 with cause the profile 52 to engage the upper collet56 and drive the internal sleeve 60 in the upward direction to move thevalve 14 from an open to a closed position. Referring to FIG. 3B, forexample, when the illustrated ball valve 16 is in an open position, theupward movement of the engagement arm 38 will cause the profile 52 topass by the lower collet 58 (if the profile 52 previously bypassed it)and abut the upper collet 56 (FIG. 3C), pushing it and the internalsleeve 60 upwardly. This movement will shift the ball valve 16 into aclosed position. As shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, in this example, continuedupward movement of the engagement arm 38 will cause the upper collet 56to seat in an upper undercut 64 in the valve assembly 18 and theillustrated profile 52 to pass over the upper collet 56. The engagementarm 58 and, thus, the shifter 32 may thereafter be slideably disengagedfrom the valve assembly 18, allowing the exemplary valve actuator 10(e.g. FIG. 1) to be entirely removable from the well 12 withoutdisturbing the location of the valve 14 therein. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited to this particular operation or arrangement ofcomponents.

If desired, the valve actuator 10 may be removed from the well 12,replaced back into the well 12 and again used for shifting the valve 14.This procedure may be repeated as many times as desired, such as forequipment service or replacement, to isolate the well for conductingother downhole operations, or any other desired purpose. Referring backto FIG. 1, for example, the exemplary valve actuator 10 is coupled tothe lower end of a production tubing 74, which also carries an electricsubmersible pump 70. The pump 70 is useful to assist in drawing producedoil and/or gas up into the production tubing 74, such as in a lowbottom-hole pressure well, as is and becomes further known. In thisarrangement, if it becomes necessary to replace or service the pump 70(production tubing 74, valve actuator 10, etc.), it may be desirable toclose the valve 14, isolate the well 12 and remove the tubing 74 andassociated components from the well 12. Accordingly, after the exemplaryvalve actuator 10 is actuated to shift the valve 14 to a closedposition, the production tubing 74 (with submersible pump 70 and valveactuator 10) may be retrieved up and out of the well 12. After the pump70 (or other equipment) is serviced or replaced, the tubing 74 andconnected components may be returned into the well 12.

Still referring to FIG. 1, if desired, one or more re-entry guide 78 maybe associated with the valve actuator 10, tubing 74 or other componentto assist in alignment and reinsertion of the tubing 74 and valveactuator 10. Also, in the illustrated example, as shown in FIG. 3D, thevalve assembly 18 includes a guide 82 to assist in aligning theengagement arm 38 within the valve assembly 18. After the arm 38 isslideably engaged with the valve assembly 18, downward movement of theillustrated arm 38 will cause the exemplary profile 52 to bypass theupper collet 56 and eventually engage the lower collet 58 to shift thevalve 16 from a closed to an open position, such as described above. Thevalve actuator 10 may thereafter be used as needed to shift theexemplary valve 16 between open and closed positions, and the entireprocess may be repeated as desired.

In FIG. 4A, another embodiment of the valve actuator 10 is shown in amulti-flow production configuration. In this example, the valve actuator10 is useful to open and close a mechanical closing sleeve 86. Theillustrated valve actuator 10 is disposed at the end of the productiontubing 74 and includes a shifter 32 having a piston (not shown) disposedin a housing 42 and operable such as described above with respect toFIGS. 1 & 2. In this example, the piston drives a perforated inner pipe88 upon which the engagement arm 38 is disposed. The illustratedengagement arm 38 is a support mandrel for at least one engager 90 thatis engageable with the sleeve 86. The engager 90 may be a collet,retractable finger or any other suitable component or member.

Still referring to FIG. 4A, the illustrated closing sleeve 86 opens andcloses at least one port 87 formed in the lower completion arrangement22, or otherwise provided in the well 12 below a packer 30. The port 87allows fluid flow from an annulus 92 into the perforated pipe 88 duringproduction, such as shown with flow arrows 94. The lower completionarrangement 22, shown mounted in the well 12, includes a check, orstanding, valve 96 that is liftable off a seat 98 by upward fluidpressure to allow fluid flow through the pipe bore 100 in a lower pipesection 102 of the arrangement 22. The illustrated lower pipe section102 is perforated, so that upwardly flowing fluid may pass both throughthe bore 100 (e.g. flow arrows 104) and into the annulus 92 (e.g. flowarrows 106). Accordingly, FIG. 4A illustrates the “down” position of theexemplary engagement arm 38 and the open positions of the closing sleeve86 and check valve 96 during production.

If production ceases or it is desirable to isolate or seal off the well12 at this interval, such as to replace the submersible pump 70 or otherhardware, or for other operations, the piston (not shown) of the shifter32 may be actuated from surface to move the perforated pipe 88 andengagement arm 38 upwardly. Referring to FIG. 4B, sufficient upwardmovement of the illustrated engagement arm 38 causes the engager(s) 90to engage and close the sleeve 86. In this embodiment, continued upwardmovement of the engagement arm 38 will allow the engager(s) 90 tocollapse or otherwise bypass or move above the sleeve 86, allowingremoval of the production tubing 74 and all attached equipment (thevalve actuator 10, perforated inner pipe 88, submersible pump 70, etc.)from the well 12. Later, the production tubing 74 and other componentsmay be reinserted into the well and the valve actuator 10 used tore-open the sleeve 86 generally similarly as described above withrespect to other embodiments.

In FIGS. 5A-D, another embodiment of an engagement arm 38 in accordancewith the present disclosure is shown useful for opening and closing asliding sleeve 110. The illustrated sliding sleeve 110 includes and atleast one passageway 112 alignable with at least one port 114 formed ina pipe 116 (or other component), such as to allow fluid flow into or outof a bore 117. The sleeve 110 also includes a B-shifting profilearrangement with upper and lower profiles 124, 126.

The illustrated engagement arm 38 includes a multi-action, collapsible,B-shifting body portion 106 with collets 118, 120. The upper collet 118is releasably engageable with the lower profile 126 of the sleeve 110and the lower collet 120 is releasably engageable with the upper profile124. The illustrated arm 38 is driven by a piston (not shown) as part ofa shifter 32 and operates generally similarly as previously describedwith respect to other embodiments.

In FIG. 5A, the exemplary engagement arm 38 is shown shifting the sleeve110 into an open-port position. As the arm 38 is moved downwardly (fromleft to right in FIGS. 5A-D), the upper collet 118 engages the lowerprofile 126 to move the sleeve 110, aligning the passageway 112 with theport 114, as shown in FIG. 5B. If desired, continued downward movementof the arm 38 may cause the body 106 of the arm 38 to collapse, ifnecessary, to allow the upper collet 118 to disengage from and bypassthe lower profile 126.

Referring now to FIGS. 5C-D, the exemplary engagement arm 38 is shownshifting the sleeve 110 into a closed-port position. As the arm 38 ismoved upwardly, the lower collet 120 will engage the upper profile 124and move the sleeve 110 upwardly until the passageway 112 and port 114are misaligned and out of fluid communication. If desired, continuedupward movement of the arm 38 will cause the body 106 to collapse, ifnecessary, to allow the lower collet 120 to disengage from and bypassthe upper profile 124 and the arm 38 to disengage completely from thesleeve 110 and pipe 116, if desired.

Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure thus offer advantagesover the prior art and are well adapted to carry out one or more of theobjects of this disclosure. However, the present invention does notrequire each of the components and acts described above and is in no waylimited to the above-described embodiments, methods of operation. Anyone or more of the above components, features and processes may beemployed in any suitable configuration without inclusion of other suchcomponents, features and processes. Moreover, the present inventionincludes additional features, capabilities, functions, methods, uses andapplications that have not been specifically addressed herein but are,or will become, apparent from the description herein, the appendeddrawings and claims.

The methods that are provided in or apparent from the description aboveor claimed herein, and any other methods which may fall within the scopeof the appended claims, may be performed in any desired suitable orderand are not necessarily limited to any sequence described herein or asmay be listed in the appended claims. Further, the methods of thepresent invention do not necessarily require use of the particularembodiments shown and described herein, but are equally applicable withany other suitable structure, form and configuration of components.

While exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, many variations, modifications and/or changes of the system,apparatus and methods of the present invention, such as in thecomponents, details of construction and operation, arrangement of partsand/or methods of use, are possible, contemplated by the patentapplicant(s), within the scope of the appended claims, and may be madeand used by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from thespirit or teachings of the invention and scope of appended claims. Thus,all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings shouldbe interpreted as illustrative, and the scope of the disclosure and theappended claims should not be limited to the embodiments described andshown herein.

1. A method of shifting a shiftable device between at least first andsecond positions with a removable actuator, the actuator being driven byat least one among hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure and electricpower, the shiftable device being anchored within a subterranean well,the method comprising: inserting the actuator into the well; releasablyengaging the actuator with the shiftable device; when the shiftabledevice is in a first position, actuating the actuator by providing atleast one among hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure and electricpower to the actuator to shift the shiftable device into a secondposition without requiring the use of either a rig or a slick line; anddisengaging the actuator from the shiftable device.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 further including, before disengaging the actuator from theshiftable device, actuating the actuator to shift the shiftable deviceout of the second position.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein theshiftable device is a fluid flow control valve having at least oneopen-flow position and at least one closed-flow position, wherein thefirst position of the shiftable device is a closed-flow position and thesecond position of the shiftable device is an open-flow position.
 4. Themethod of claim 3 further including, before disengaging the actuatorfrom the shiftable device, actuating the actuator to shift the shiftabledevice back to the first position.
 5. The method of claim 1 furtherincluding, after disengaging the actuator from the shiftable device,removing the actuator from the well without disturbing the location ofthe shiftable device within the well.
 6. The method of claim 5 furtherincluding coupling the actuator to a production tubing, wherein theactuator is insertable into and removable from the well by moving theproduction tubing into and out of the well.
 7. The method of claim 6further including anchoring the shiftable device in the well as part ofa set of lower completion components insertable into the well in a firsttrip, wherein the actuator is lowered into the well and releasablyslideably engaged with the shiftable device in a second trip.
 8. Themethod of claim 6 wherein the well is a low bottom-hole pressure well,further including coupling at least one submersible pump to theproduction tubing, and after removing the production tubing from thewell, removing at least one submersible pump from the production tubing,coupling at least one other submersible pump to the production tubingand inserting the production tubing back into the well.
 9. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the actuator is slideable into and out of the shiftabledevice.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the actuator includes a pistonand an engagement arm, the piston and engagement arm being concurrentlymoveable between at least first and second positions, further includingproviding at least one among air, hydraulic fluid and electricity to thepiston from the surface to selectively move the piston and engagementarm between their respective first and second positions.
 11. The methodof claim 10 wherein the engagement arm includes at least one among atleast one profile and at least one collect and the shiftable deviceincludes at least one among at least one profile and at least onecollect, further including selectively moving the engagement arm tocause at least one profile or collect thereon to engage at least oneprofile or collet of the shiftable device and move the shiftable devicebetween its respective first and second positions.
 12. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the shiftable device includes at least one among ashiftable sleeve, flapper valve, ball valve, sliding sleeve and gravelpack closing sleeve.
 13. A method of shifting a shiftable device betweenat least first and second positions with an actuator, the actuator beingdriven by at least one among hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure andelectric power, the shiftable device being anchored within asubterranean well, the method comprising: coupling the actuator to aproduction tubing; after the shiftable member is anchored in the well,inserting the production tubing into the well; slideably engaging theactuator with the shiftable device; when desired and as many times asdesired, actuating the actuator by providing at least one amonghydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure and electric power to theactuator to shift the shiftable device between its respective at leastfirst and second positions without requiring the use of either a rig ora slick line.
 14. The method of claim 13 further including when desiredand as many time as desired slideably disengaging the actuator from theshiftable device, removing the production tubing and actuator from thewell without disturbing the location of the shiftable device within thewell, reinserting the production tubing, reengaging the actuator withthe shiftable device, and actuating the actuator by providing at leastone among hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure and electric power tothe actuator to shift the shiftable device between its respective atleast first and second positions without requiring the use of either arig or a slick line.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the shiftabledevice is a fluid flow control valve having at least one open flowposition and at least one closed flow position, wherein the firstposition of the shiftable device is a closed flow position and thesecond position of the shiftable device is an open flow position,wherein the shiftable device is in its first position when the actuatoris engaged with and disengaged from the shiftable device, whereby thewell may be sealed or isolated when the actuator is disengaged from theshiftable device.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the well is a lowbottom-hole pressure well, further including coupling at least onesubmersible pump to the production tubing, and after removing theproduction tubing from the well, removing at least one submersible pumpfrom the production tubing, coupling at least one other submersible pumpto the production tubing and inserting the product tubing back into thewell.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the shiftable device includesat least one among a shiftable sleeve, flapper valve, ball valve,sliding sleeve and gravel pack closing sleeve that is shiftable betweenopen and closed positions, further wherein the actuator includes abalanced hydraulic piston and an engagement arm extending therefrom,further including actuating the hydraulic piston to move the engagementarm up and down, wherein downward movement of the engagement arm causesthe shiftable device to move from a closed position to an open positionand upward movement of the engagement arm causes the shiftable device tomove from an open position to a closed position.
 18. A method ofremotely shifting a valve between open and closed positions with ahydraulic valve actuator, the valve being disposed in a subterraneanwell, the method comprising: inserting the valve actuator into the well;engaging the valve actuator with the valve, the valve being in a closedposition; and repeatedly, as desired, when the valve is in a closedposition, actuating the valve actuator by providing hydraulic pressureto the valve actuator to shift the valve into an open position withoutrequiring the connection of hydraulic control lines directly to thevalve, and when the valve is in an open position, actuating the valveactuator by providing hydraulic pressure to the valve actuator to shiftthe valve into a closed position without requiring the connection ofhydraulic control lines directly to the valve.
 19. The method of claim18, further including, when the valve is in a closed position,repeatedly as desired, disengaging the valve actuator from the valvewithout disturbing the location of the valve within the well, removingthe valve actuator from the well, reinserting the valve actuator intothe well, and reengaging the valve actuator with the valve. 20.Apparatus useful for shifting a shiftable device between at least firstand second positions, the shiftable device being anchored in asubterranean well, the apparatus comprising: a housing insertable intoand out of the well without disturbing the location of the shiftabledevice within the well; a hydraulically-driven piston disposed withinsaid housing; at least two hydraulic control lines fluidly coupled tosaid housing and capable of providing hydraulic pressure from thesurface to said housing to cause said piston to move between at least apiston up and a piston down position within said housing; and anengagement arm extending from and being concurrently moveable with saidpiston and releasably engageable with the shiftable device, saidengagement arm capable of mechanically shifting the shiftable devicebetween at least first and second positions without requiring the use ofeither a rig or a slick line, wherein said piston and said engagementarm may be hydraulically actuated to selectively remotely shift theshiftable member between at least first and second positions.
 21. Theapparatus of claim 20 wherein the shiftable device includes at least oneprofile and said engagement arm includes at least one collect, whereinsaid at least one collet of said engagement arm is releasably engageablewith at least one profile of the shiftable device to cause the shiftabledevice to move between at least first and second positions.
 22. Theapparatus of claim 20 wherein the shiftable device includes at least onecollet and said engagement arm includes at least one profile, whereinsaid at least one profile of said engagement arm is releasablyengageable with at least one collet of the shiftable device to causeshiftable device to move between at least first and second positions.23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the shiftable device includes atleast one among a shiftable sleeve, flapper valve, ball valve, slidingsleeve and gravel pack closing sleeve.